Key opening container



Dec. 12, 1944. F. J. OCIBRIEN. 2,365,100

KEY OPENING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 15, 1942 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 KEYOPENING CONTAINER Frank J. OBrien, Pelham, N. Y., assignor toContinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application December 16, 1942, Serial No. 469,242

1 Claim.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet metalcontainers having a tear strip with which a key is engageable foropening the container, and more particularly to the means for attachingthe key to the container end.

It has been a common expedient to provide meanis for attaching the keyto the end of the container so that it mayv be readily detachedtherefrom and used for removing the tear strip. The key has been securedto the container in various ways as by soldering, by welding, and bymechanical connection between the key and the container end. The heatnecessary for securing the key to the container end, whether bysoldering or by welding, often results in a marked discoloration orscorching of the inside of the container around the area where the keyis attached thereto.

In attaching keys to container ends having a lacquered interior surface,the heat necessary for soldering or welding often results in thescorching of the lacquered surface. The mechanical means for connectin akey to a container as heretofore used depends upon the springing of themetal parts which hold the key in place, and keys attached in thismanner either become detached from the end because of lack of a firmgrip thereon or are so firmly gripped that they cannot be readilydetached by the fingers of the person desiring to open the container.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical means for securinga key to a container which is of such construction that the key isfirmly held connected to the container and may be readily removed by therupturing of a portion of the shank of the key.

In the drawing, t

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a container in which the key isattached to the container end by my improved means;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the containeron the line 22 ofFigure 1, the key being shown in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a view showing a key placed on the container end and beforethe parts are shaped to secure the key to the container end;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the raised orembossed portions of the can The container includes a body portion l toFigure 6 is a section on the line B6 of Figure 5.

which an end 2 is attached by a double seam 3. The body wall is scoredalong the lines 44 to form a tear strip which may be removed so as todisconnect the end from the container and thus give access thereto. Thistear strip d is provided with the usual projecting tongue to which a keymay be attached so that the tongue may be rolled onto the key rupturingthe metal along the score lines. The score lines preferably extend allthe way around the container. This is the usual form of tear strip foropening a container.

The key for removing the tear strip is indicated at 5. Said key includesa handle portion 6 and a shank portion 1-. This shank portion isprovided with a slot 8 through which the tongue of the tear strip may beinserted so that the tear strip may be wound onto the key. This is alsoa common form of key for removing the tear strip of a container.

The shank between the slot and the end of the key is cut away at bothsides thereof as indicated at 9 and ID respectively. These cut-awayportions are shown as semi-circular. They may, however, be otherwiseshaped. A sufiicient amount of the metal of the shank is cut away so asto leave a relatively narrow neck I l.

Th container end is die-shaped so as to provide embossed or raisedportions l2 and I3. These raised portions are similar in constructionand as initially formed, each includes a wall M which is substantiallyat right angles to the plane of the end and inclined portions H: whichmerge into th plane of the container end. The walls l4-| 4 of the raisedportions are spaced from each other and so shaped that the neck portionll of the key [passes freely down between these walls and rests on theportion l6 of the container end which lies between these raisedportions. After the key has been placed between these raised portionsthen the end is subjected to a bumping operation which bends the raisedportion l2 into contact with the outer face of the neck portion of thekey, as indicated at H. The raised portion I3 is likewise bent down intocontact with the outer face of the neck of the key, as indicated at l8.This bumping operation will clamp the key firmly against the containerend. This provides a very firm clamping means which may be formedwithout the use of any heat whatever and by only a slight bending of themetal, which is not sufiicient in any way to disrupt the meta1 coated orlacquer coated surface of the end.

When it is desired to remove the key, the operator grasps the handle ofthe key 5 and forces the same upward away from the container end.

The metal portions clamping the key at the neck thereof hold the key sofirmly that the upward movement of the key will rupture the metal in theshank at the neck, thus separating the key from its connection to thecontainer end. The metal from which the key is constructed may be ofsuch a character as to permit comparatively easy rupturing of the sameand the neck portion may be so dimensioned that the operator merely bythe use of his fingers, can lift the key, rupture the shank, and therebydisconnect the key for use in removing the tear strip.

It is obvious that minor change in the details of construction may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth inthe appended claim.

I claim:

A key opening container including a body portion having score linesforming a tearing strip, a closure end secured to the container body anda key for removing the tearing strip, said key having a straight shank,a handle at one end of said shank, said shank adjacent the other endthereof being flat and having a slot adapted to engage the tearing stripand cut away portions disposed between the slot and the end of the keyopposite the handle and at opposite sides of the shank, said cut awayportions forming a relatively narrow neck in the shank, said containerend having raised portions formed therein which are shaped and spaced soas to engage within the cut away portions forming the neck of the keywhich key is pressed flat against the end, said raised portions beingbent into engagement with the outer face of the neck for forming aholding means firmly clamping the key to the container, and said neckportion being dimensioned so that when the handle end of the key islifted the shank will be ruptured at said neck and the key released fromthe container end.

FRANK J. OBRIEN.

